JaJuan Johnson signed with Purdue a year ago not necessarily expecting to be any sort of go-to offensive player any time soon.

"Defense and rebounding were two things I was better at early on (in my career), so I think those were things they were looking for more early (in college)," Johnson said. "But I started to get more of a feel for scoring, so that's helped me."

And so, now the Boilermakers are hoping for the 6-foot-10 freshman to establish himself as a scoring threat on the front line, something Purdue lost with Carl Landry's departure.

Johnson won't soon match Landry's production - few would - but it's hoped he can at least help re-establish that kind of dimension for Purdue offensively.

"I feel like (the coaches) expect a lot of me," Johnson said, "but I expect a lot of myself, so it goes both ways."

The Boilermakers have looked for Johnson in the post early and often through the exhibition season and during their first two regular season games. Though he's shooting only 32 percent - of those Boilermakers who've taken 10 or more shots through the season's first two games, only Chris Kramer (61.5) is shooting 40 percent or better - Johnson has averaged 10 points through two games.